Moscovia Detention Centre

The Al-Moskobiya, Moscobiyeh, Muscovite or Moscovia Detention Centre is an Israeli detention and interrogation facility and prison more commonly known as The Russian Compound, located in West Jerusalem.[1] The center is used to interrogate Palestinian detainees and prisoners from a variety of age groups, including children. The Palestinian NGO Addameer has alleged that harsh methods of torture are used there.[2]

Moscovia Detention Centre
Moscovia Detention Centre is located in Jerusalem
Moscovia Detention Centre
Location in Jerusalem
Moscovia Detention Centre is located in Israel
Moscovia Detention Centre
Moscovia Detention Centre (Israel)
LocationWest Jerusalem, Israel
Coordinates31°46′55.50″N 35°13′26.49″E

History

During the British Palestine Mandate the center was known as 'the central prison'. It has been claimed that the prison especially became notorious due to its harsh torture techniques throughout the 1980s.[2]

In 1990, it was reported that the jail was used mainly for Palestinians fighting Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Both the Moscovia Detention Centre and the nearby Museum of Underground Prisoners are yellow brick buildings that were built as part of a complex of hostels and a green-domed church for pilgrims by the Russian Orthodox Church in the 1860s.[3]

In 2017 a documentary by director Raed Andoni was released called Ghost Hunting (Arabic: إصطياد اشباح Iṣṭiyād ʾAšbāḥ). The movie, which explores the trauma of former prisoners of the Detention Center, was first screened in Ramallah for an audience consisting for ninety percent of former prisoners.[4]

References
  1. Staff of Al-Haq / Law in the Service of Man (December 1988). Punishing a Nation. Israeli Human Rights Violations During the Palestinian Uprising. December 1987 - December1988. Boston: South End Press. p. 71. ISBN 0-89608-379-9.
  2. "Al-Moscobiyeh (The Russian Compound) Interrogation Center and Prison". Addameer. Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  3. Laub, Karin (26 August 1990). "Russian Compound: Symbolic Jails in Holy City". Los Angeles Times. ASSOCIATED PRESS. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  4. Abdessadok, Zineb (1 March 2017). "Film recreates notorious Israeli detention centre". Al Jazeera Media Network. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
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